After the Beatles stopped touring in 1966, George started writing more songs than could be fitted onto the albums so that by the time of the split he had built up a collection of songs, some used on his debut solo album, All Things Must Pass. The album, released in 1970, contains the two-time number one hit, "My Sweet Lord".
Harrison is also credited for creating music benefits, notably the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh. Harrison played beside Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr, and Leon Russell to a crowd of 40,000 in Madison Square Garden, New York. The show raised over $240,000 benefiting the George Harrison Fund for Bangladesh relief.
Harrison went on to release several successful solo albums, and in the late 1980s collaborated with Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty, in a group called Traveling Wilburys. The group released two albums. Later, Harrison reunited with the other two surviving Beatles, after John Lennon's murder in 1980, to produce two final Beatles records, "Free As a Bird" and "Real Love" featuring the voice of Lennon, taken from home demos provided by Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono. The three Beatles also co-wrote a massive autobiography and television special, both titled "The Beatles Anthology."
Before his death, Harrison conceived of a Cirque du Soleil show, "Love," featuring remixes of Beatles music which were overseen by Beatles producer George Martin.
Harrison died on November 29, 2001 after a battle with cancer, leaving behind a wife and son, Olivia and Dhani Harrison. His last album, Brainwashed, was released posthumously and featured the single "Any Road".
A benefit concert in Harrison's memory was played on 29 November 2002 at the Royal Albert Hall. The star-studded event (featuring Eric Clapton and Monty Python, as well as former band mates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr) was released on the DVD double-album, Concert for George.
Apple Scruffs
George Harrison Lyrics
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Seen the passers-by all stare
Like you have no place to go
But there's so much they don't know about Apple Scruffs
You've been stood around for years
Seen my smiles and touched my tears
How it's been a long, long time
Apple Scruffs, Apple Scruffs
How I love you, how I love you
In the fog and in the rain
Through the pleasures and the pain
On the step outside you stand
With your flowers in your hand, my Apple Scruffs
While the years they come and go
Now, your love must surely show me
That beyond all time and space
We're together face to face, my Apple Scruffs
Apple Scruffs, Apple Scruffs
How I love you, how I love you
In "Apple Scruffs," George Harrison speaks of the love and admiration he has for a group of girls who would wait outside of Abbey Road Studios in the hope of catching a glimpse of The Beatles. These young fanatics, who came to be known as "Apple Scruffs," would stand for hours through the rain and the cold, in order to be close to their idols. Harrison, who was himself a Beatles fan before becoming a member of the band admits in the song that he himself was one of those who were nervously standing outside the studio gates before eventually being allowed access inside.
He started the song by describing the way they would sit outside the studio during recording sessions, ignored by others who saw them as just young girls with nothing better to do. However, Harrison saw more than just love-stricken fans - he recognized a purity in the intensity of their devotion to the band, as they would never be deterred from showing their support. He speaks of how he saw them stand there for years, through the ups and downs of the band, and how their unwavering dedication truly captivated and resonated with him. The chorus repeats the phrase "Apple Scruffs" between declarations of how much he loves them, emphasizing the deep impact these young fans had on him.
In conclusion, "Apple Scruffs" is a testament to the love and admiration that existed between The Beatles and their fans. It is a song that speaks to the transformative power of music and the unique bond it creates between artists and their followers.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I've watched you sitting there
I have observed you sitting in one place for a while
Seen the passers-by all stare
I noticed people looking at you curiously as they walked by
Like you have no place to go
As if you have nowhere to be
But there's so much they don't know about Apple Scruffs
But people don't realize how special you are, Apple Scruffs
You've been stood around for years
You have been waiting around for a long time
Seen my smiles and touched my tears
You have been there for me through happy and sad times
How it's been a long, long time
It has been a very long time since we first met
And how you've been on my mind, my Apple Scruffs
And how I have been thinking about you often, my beloved Apple Scruffs
In the fog and in the rain
Through difficult and unpleasant times
Through the pleasures and the pain
Through enjoyable and difficult times
On the step outside you stand
You stand outside on the doorstep
With your flowers in your hand, my Apple Scruffs
Holding flowers in your hand, my dear Apple Scruffs
While the years they come and go
As the years pass us by
Now, your love must surely show me
Now I must see the love that you have for me
That beyond all time and space
No matter what happens in the universe
We're together face to face, my Apple Scruffs
We will always be together, face-to-face, my lovely Apple Scruffs
Apple Scruffs, Apple Scruffs
You are my Apple Scruffs
How I love you, how I love you
I love you so much
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: George Harrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind